Vancouverites are concerned about a sailboat that reportedly washed ashore on Sunset Beach a week ago and hasn't been cleaned up.
While it is unclear how the sailboat ended up on the beach, the vessel hasn't been claimed and is attracting looters who are allegedly spreading its contents all over the beach.
Resident John Preissl told Vancouver Is Awesome in an email that the outboard engine is way up the beach and leaking a "bit of oil and or gas." Further, he notes that waves and tides are making the situation worse every day.
"I have been trying to get it cleaned up since Saturday," Preissl said. "I have phoned and emailed every agency. I am also a member of the Ocean Protection Program and I still can’t get the beach cleaned up.
"The looters have been taking stuff every day and night and making a mess of the beach."
Michelle Imbeau, a communications advisor with the Canadian Coast Guard and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, told V.I.A. in an email that the coast guard is aware of the sailboat on Sunset Beach. Moreover, she added that it is not the first time this vessel has been grounded recently.
"At the time of the initial grounding following a storm in late February, Coast Guard’s Environmental Response team coordinated the removal of all hydrocarbons from this vessel as a precautionary measure," she writes.
"Coast Guard’s mandate is to respond to reports of marine pollution (e.g.: hydrocarbons). This vessel is no longer at risk to pollute."
Since the vessel is no longer at risk to pollute, the coast guard won't be involved in its removal. Imbeau said that the removal of the vessel or personal belongings from the beach is the responsibility of the vessel owner.
Vancouver Park Board confirmed in an email that the coast guard is generally the first to respond to a boat that has washed ashore. After they remove all hydrocarbons, they inform the park board and Vancouver Police Department.
"Park Board staff contact the Receiver of Wreck to inform them of the incident and Port Metro Vancouver to request a search of the vessel database to try to identify the owner and obtain contact information. If the owner can be identified, then Park Board staff attempt to contact the owner to inform them of the condition of the vessel," wrote spokesperson Daria Wojnarski.
Wojnarski adds that if the owner chooses not to take responsibility for the vessel, they are invited to sign over ownership of it so that the park board can act on it. However, if the owner is unknown, the boat will be held at Burrard Civic Marina for as long as the Receiver of Wreck requires.
"If the vessel cannot be floated the preferred approach is to contact a boat salvage company to have the vessel removed," she adds.
"I’m not sure about the status of the boat on Sunset Beach and have asked staff."
Sgt. Aaron Roed, a media relations officer with Vancouver Police Department, told V.I.A. in an email that the sailboat was first reported to police on March 1. He adds that the VPD have notified the Coast Guard as well as Vancouver Park Board.
V.I.A.will update the story when more information becomes available.
